He Knew He Was Right eBook

But nothing was said to Camilla about Mr Crump—­nothing
as yet. Camilla did not love Mr Crump, but there
was no other house except that of Mr Crump’s
at Gloucester to which she might be sent, if it could
be arranged that Mr Gibson and Bella should be made
one. Mrs French took her eldest daughter’s
advice, and went to Mr Gibson, taking Mr Crump’s
letter in her pocket. For herself she wanted nothing,
but was it not the duty of her whole life to fight
for her daughters? Poor woman! If somebody
would only have taught her how that duty might best
be done, she would have endeavoured to obey the teaching.
’You know I do not want to threaten you,’
she said to Mr Gibson; ’but you see what my
brother says. Of course I wrote to my brother.
What could a poor woman do in such circumstances except
write to her brother?’

’If you choose to set the bloodhounds of the
law at me, of course you can,’ said Mr Gibson.

‘I do not want to go to law at all God; knows
I do not!’ said Mrs French. Then there
was a pause. ‘Poor dear Bella!’ ejaculated
Mrs French.

‘Dear Bella!’ echoed Mr Gibson.

‘What do you mean to do about Bella?’
asked Mrs French.

’I sometimes think that I had better take poison
and have done with it!’ said Mr Gibson, feeling
himself to be very hard pressed.

CHAPTER LXXXIII

BELLA VICTRIX

Mr Crump arrived at Exeter. Camilla was not told
of his coming till the morning of the day on which
he arrived; and then the tidings were communicated,
because it was necessary that a change should be made
in the bed-rooms. She and her sister had separate
rooms when there was no visitor with them, but now
Mr Crump must be accommodated. There was a long
consultation between Bella and Mrs French, but at last
it was decided that Bella should sleep with her mother.
There would still be too much of the lioness about
Camilla to allow of her being regarded as a safe companion
through the watches of the night. ’Why is
Uncle Jonas coming now?’ she asked.

‘I thought it better to ask him,’ said
Mrs French.

After a long pause, Camilla asked another question.
’Does Uncle Jonas mean to see Mr Gibson?’

‘I suppose he will,’ said Mrs French.

’Then he will see a low, mean fellow: the
lowest, meanest fellow that ever was heard of!
But that won’t make much difference to Uncle
Jonas. I wouldn’t have him now, if he was
to ask me ever so, that I wouldn’t!’

Mr Crump came, and kissed his sister and two nieces.
The embrace with Camilla was not very affectionate.’so
your Joe has been and jilted you?’ said Uncle
Jonas ’it’s like one of them clergymen.
They say so many prayers, they think they may do almost
anything afterwards. Another man would have had
his head punched.’